Archive for January, 2009

According to a recent report in the Jan. 26 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, increasing technology and wireless capabilities in hospitals lead to increased care ratings.

“Every day there are more innovations [in medicine], more evidence-based guidelines. For a single physician to keep track of that is difficult,” said study author Dr. Ruben Amarasingham, associate chief of medicine at Parkland Health & Hospital System and an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. “Computers and, in particular, electronic decision support, provides enormous adjunct service [to physicians and other health-care professionals] when taking care of patients.”

The analysis involved more than 167,000 individuals over the age of 50 who were hospitalized between Dec. 1, 2005, and May 30, 2006. The authors compared inpatient death rates, complications, length-of-stay and cost associated with greater and lesser levels of automation in 41 Texas hospitals. The results: computer automated information systems, testing, and equipment often acted as another level of checks and balances in patient care, leading to an overall higher level of quality. To read more about the study…

To start adding more integrated medical technology solutions into your practice, clinic, or hospital, choose PhysiciansResource.net to provide you with the latest innovations in cardiology, medical imaging, and more.

Sudden cardiac arrest claims 400,000 each year in the United States alone. It’s the cause of more than half the deaths from heart disease. In an effort to increase the odds of a victim’s survival lightweight portable Automated External Defibrillators, AED’s, have been installed on airplanes, in retirement communities and on campuses. AED’s deliver a powerful electrical shock to the heart that restores normal heart beat. It should only be used with victims that don’t respond to cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Here’s how to use an AED in the event of an emergency:

1.Switch on the defibrillator. Some AEDs may automatically switch on when the AED lid is opened. Others have an easy to identify green button. If more than one rescuer is present, continue CPR until the shock is given.

2.Remove the victims’ shirt or blouse, watch, rings and jewelry. Check for piercings and remove all studs.

3.Apply the electrode pads to the chest according the diagram displayed on the machine. Place one on the upper right side of the chest, the other on the lower left.

4.Stop CPR. Plug the electrode pads into the connector. The defibrillator will analyze the victim. Do not touch or move the victim while this occurs.

5.If the AED determines that a shock is needed, the machine will tell you audibly to deliver a shock by pressing a button. The machine will examine the victim’s heart beat to see if another shock is needed. If it is, you’ll be told to press the button again. Some AED’s will administer the shocks automatically as needed.

6.Check the victim’s breathing and pulse. If the heart has resumed beating, but the patient is not breathing, resume CPR. If there is no pulse, repeat the defibrillation process.

Remember, in the event of sudden cardiac arrest, the first responder can make all the difference. Make sure that your office is outfitted with an AED from PhysiciansResource.com and that all of the employees receive proper training.

GE Healthcare has introduced three medical imaging technologies for gentler imaging, which is expected to enable better patient care: the low-dose Discovery CT750 HD, the fast Discovery MR750, and the fusion technology of the Logiq E9, as reported in a recent release.

John Rice, vice chairman of GE said: “GE has developed technologies that improve the entire patient experience, from early and more accurate diagnosis to better treatment and management of diseases. The Discovery CT750 HD, Discovery MR750 and LOGIQ E9 are setting new technological standards in the early detection and diagnosis of many prevalent health issues. We are excited to bring these breakthrough innovations to help patients around the world.”

According to the company, the Discovery CT750 HD, a high-definition computed tomography (CT) provides an improved image with less radiation dose per scan for patients. This new technology is expected to offer up to 83% less dose on cardiac scans and up to 50% less dose across the rest of the body.

The Discovery MR750 is a magnetic resonance imaging scanner that looks to improve the overall patient experience without sacrificing image quality.

The Logiq E9, fuses ultrasound images with images from other imaging technologies like CT and MR for extraordinary image quality on all patient body types. With new tools and capabilities, the Logiq E9 is expected to improve workflow and diagnostic confidence for radiology and vascular applications – an essential for hospitals and large clinics.

According to a post by The Canadian Press on The Sault Star news site, Ontario is investing $1.4 million to expand defibrillator training for high-school students to enhance CPR and other on-the-spot treatment for cardiac arrest. The program will help the Advanced Coronary Treatment Foundation train teachers to instruct students in the use of an automated external defibrillator and help support placement of the devices in high schools across the province.

The Advanced Coronary Treatment Foundation launched a pilot project like this one in 2007 in several Canadian high schools to train students how to use defibrillators in the event of a cardiac emergency. In the United States, similar training programs have popped up, allowing for students to be able to use defibrillation techniques.

According to the article, each year, up to 40,000 Canadians suffer sudden cardiac arrest, resulting in ab estimated 30,000 Canadians deaths from sudden cardiac arrest each year. In the United States, the American Heart Association reports that in 2007 over 450,000 victims died from a coronary attack.

With numbers like these, it comes as no surprise that schools, offices, and public buildings are installing automatic external defibrillators at a growing rate. Companies like Burdick, Medtronic, Zoll, and Philips are some of the leading providers, offering people of all types and experience levels the chance to save a life in the event of an emergency.

Is your school prepared? Consider outfitting your building with an AED Defibrillator from PhysiciansResource.Net before students return from the holidays. Start an AED training program to show students and staff what to do in the event of a cardiac emergency. This training could prove to be the difference between life and death in a time of crisis.